Star Sydney Roosters halfback Cooper Cronk will start in Sunday night's NRL grand final despite suffering a shoulder injury in last week's win over South Sydney.
Cronk has been racing the clock to be fit for the decider against his former club the Melbourne Storm, and after being included by coach Trent Robinson on an extended bench in Tuesday's team list he'll take the field in jersey 23.
His inclusion means Isaac Liu drops to the bench, with Paul Momirovski dropping out of the side. Lindsay Collins drops off the extended bench.
The Melbourne Storm will run out as named on Tuesday, 1-17, with Ryan Hoffman and Jahrome Hughes dropping out of their 19-man squad.
Match: Roosters v Storm
Grand Final -
home Team
Roosters
away Team
Storm
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James TedescoFullback for Storm is number 1 Billy Slater
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Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel TupouWinger for Storm is number 2 Suliasi Vunivalu
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Centre for Roosters is number 3 Latrell MitchellCentre for Storm is number 3 Will Chambers
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Centre for Roosters is number 4 Joseph ManuCentre for Storm is number 4 Curtis Scott
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Winger for Roosters is number 5 Blake FergusonWinger for Storm is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr
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Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Luke KearyFive-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster
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Halfback for Roosters is number 23 Cooper CronkHalfback for Storm is number 7 Brodie Croft
Forwards
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Prop for Roosters is number 8 Jared Waerea-HargreavesProp for Storm is number 8 Jesse Bromwich
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Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Jake FriendHooker for Storm is number 9 Cameron Smith
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Prop for Roosters is number 10 Siosiua TaukeiahoProp for Storm is number 10 Tim Glasby
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2nd Row for Roosters is number 7 Mitchell Aubusson2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Felise Kaufusi
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2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Boyd Cordner2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Joe Stimson
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Lock for Roosters is number 13 Victor RadleyLock for Storm is number 13 Dale Finucane
Interchange
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Interchange for Roosters is number 12 Isaac LiuInterchange for Storm is number 14 Kenneath Bromwich
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Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Dylan NapaInterchange for Storm is number 15 Christian Welch
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Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Zane TetevanoInterchange for Storm is number 16 Brandon Smith
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Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Ryan MattersonInterchange for Storm is number 17 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Nick Beashel
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
Cronk can expect plenty of attention in the defensive line, with Storm assistant coach Adam O'Brien telling pan66.com on Saturday the Roosters won't be able to hide the halfback for 80 minutes.
"They can move him one hole wider but at some stage he'll have to come into contact with one of our big guys," said O'Brien, who is leaving the Storm after 11 years to join the Roosters in 2019.
"There's a lot of emotional attachment there with Cooper but he understands as well as anyone that for those 80 minutes we'll go at him."
